Sugar blocker: Evolva’s new ingredient obstructs the body’s ability to digest sucrose Swiss biotech company Evolva is launching a natural sugar blocker for food and drink applications. L-arabinose is also a reducing sugar, the company’s head of investor and corporate relations tells FoodNavigator. With mounting pressure from public health authorities to limit ‘unhealthy’ nutrients from foods, sugar reduction is front-of-mind for many in the business. Yet, as with all nutrient-specific reformulation – whether it be cutting fat, salt or sugar from diets – food makers face the challenge of taste. How can the food or drink product in question maintain its sweetness, and in doing so, retain its consumer base?